Overall score
Balliang
49.3/100
Darley
38.5/100
Balliang for retirees and families; Darley for investment and value.
See which suburb leads on livability, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
Head to head
Overall score
Balliang
49.3/100
Darley
38.5/100
Crime rate
Balliang
71.2 / 1k
Darley
56.8 / 1k
Nearby amenities
Balliang
3
Darley
21
Population
Balliang
254
Darley
9,190
Desirability pillars scored 0–100 vs comparable suburbs
Clearer edge on lifestyle fit (score gap ≥ 3)
Who each suburb suits — composite scores out of 100
Side-by-side scores for every compared metric.
Exact figures for every metric — winner highlighted in bold.
| Category | Balliang | Darley |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 49.3/100 | 38.5/100 |
| Housing (desirability) | 28.9/100 | 54.5/100 |
| Crime rate | 71.2 / 1k | 56.8 / 1k |
| Schools & preschools | — | 1 |
| Weather (desirability) | 82.3/100 | 82.3/100 |
| Parks & reserves | 2 | 5 |
| Public transport stops | — | 27 |
| Walkability | 0.0/100 | 32.0/100 |
| Nearby amenities | 3 | 21 |
| Planning activity | 11 | 38 |
| Green cover | 15.1% | 5.6% |
| Population | 254 | 9,190 |
| SEIFA (IRSAD decile) | 7/10 | 5/10 |
Balliang reads as a leafier hillside smaller community with elevated outlooks; Darley is a well-connected metro established suburb with a familiar suburban feel. Balliang sits among greener hillside streets, while Darley keeps a flatter suburban layout.
Balliang pulls ahead on a calmer planning outlook and stronger socioeconomic advantage, whereas Darley is the better pick for housing affordability, a quieter safety profile, and parks and reserves. Balliang generally means housing toward the upper end of the market, while Darley leans toward more mid-market housing value.
On balance, retirees, families, investors, value-focused buyers, and households prioritising schools are more likely to prefer Darley, while Balliang remains a solid alternative depending on what matters most day to day.
Generated from the official metrics on this page. It can omit nuance or contain errors — check the tables and source notes before relying on it.